Judy Price is Writing

Last summer, my first full day in Alaska involved encounters with moose; four of them to be exact.  One bull calf, two cows and one bull on the Coastal Trail.

Thankfully during this time, I was on a bicycle.  At least I felt safer on a bike.

Being alone, and cycling along as I turned around a curve on the trail, I really don’t know who was more surprised!

Me or the bull calf moose who was to the left of me and advancing toward me.

We both kept going as his ears perked up, and all of a sudden he turned around in front of me and scampered speedily into the bush where his mother was feeding.

I cycled past and turned my head to see them both amidst the trees. 

I contemplated stopping to take a picture of them, and then remembered what I had been warned the day previously.

Moose can kill a person with one kick of the leg!

I was glad he had found his mother instead of passing in front of me.

Then she would have come out of hiding to find him, and that is not an encounter I care to think of!

As I carried on, not far from my destination I saw a female moose or cow walking in the same direction as me on the same side of the trail.

To my left I also glimpsed a pair of bull moose antlers among the trees.

This time I stopped, readied my camera and snapped two photos of her.

When she had joined her mate on the other side of the trail I pondered whether to continue on or turn back, when another cyclist appeared behind me.

He had not yet seen a moose on the trail, so when I told him about the four I had encountered, he was eager to continue hoping to snap a shot.

I followed him until the remaining trail took its toll on me and my bike which had ‘flat’ tires! 

Now I love to hike, but not with a bike in tow.  When I realized that I had two more uphill miles to go like this, having already cycled nine, I decided to turn around.

The mostly downhill nine miles back were fast and fun!

Until I got to town when I needed to go slowly uphill once again to get to the bicycle rental shop.

That is when I had the brilliant idea to walk the bike the rest of the way.

As I stopped and stepped off the bicycle onto the sidewalk, which was soaking wet due to an overflow from an ‘overhead hanging-basket plant watering machine’, I slipped and fell scraping my knee!

Bleeding, dirty and wet from both water and sweat after biking eighteen miles, I was subdued to say the least!

Welcome to my first day in the Last Frontier. . .

On the last day of 2010 I decided to walk across the Toronto Islands from one end to the other and back, which is only a total of about 7 miles for those who aren’t familiar with this area.

Even though the 31st of December was a mild day with drizzle after consistently below-freezing temperatures and snow, for some inexplicable reason I had it in my mind that I needed to wear my waterproof snow boots for this venture.

After crossing to the islands by ferry, as I looked around at the barren ground I quickly realized that my feet would have been fine in my trail shoes.

Too late now and no turning back!

The last time I wore these Sorels was when they were in snowshoes one year ago, and that was quite the workout I recall.  On this day they provided no less exercise for my legs!

As I set out along the path overlooking the lake, I was determined to find snow, or at least hoping to see some ice on the lake, or even on the shoreline rocks.  It is winter after all.

Hearing the waves lapping against the shore was not as comforting a sound as it normally would be.

Then I saw a few ice-blanketed rocks in the lake and later from a more inland perspective overlooking a view of the Toronto skyline, I witnessed some fragmented ice covering the water. 

I am posting a photo of each, not because this was so beautiful a sight, but rather to prove to myself later that there was indeed ice to be seen!

Since I was wearing my waterproof boots, I enjoyed splashing in every puddle I could find.   

Besides, the Canadian geese droppings needed washing off!  But that is a story for another time.

Although all three of these animals are orphans residing at the Alaska zoo in Anchorage, only one of them is actually a native Alaskan.

Do you know which one that is?

If you guessed ‘Grizzly’ you would be right

Alaskan Perspective

People watching is one of my favourite pastimes, especially when I travel alone.

In Alaska, while admiring the allure of this vast and challenging environment which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, and where the wilderness of  Denali showcases the draw to this country, The Last Frontier, I noticed an uncanny comparison to its men.

I recall a past television show, ‘Men in Trees’, filmed in Alaska, which implied that there are as many men in the state as there are trees.

However, I would agree that I saw more men of all ages than I did women, but not nearly as many men as the multitude of trees in my view, during my two week stay.

I noticed that most of the men I saw congregated in groups and were really enjoying the company of other men.

They were routinely drinking, watching football, listening to live music, and socializing with one another.

Even on a Saturday night this was the norm. 

I have to believe that some of them were married or had girlfriends, yet no women were with the majority of men I saw.  

I don’t believe that all or even most of them were homosexual. 

These men just seemed to truly prefer the company of men to women.

The phrase, ‘man’s man’ comes to mind.

I would venture a guess that these  Alaskan men are as challenging for women to relate to as the rugged and dangerous landscape is for these men to negotiate

I think it timely to post a ‘thank you’ to all rescue workers worldwide.

Most recently, and at the forefront of my mind are the Chilean crew who methodically and expertly successfully extracted 33 miners after a 69 day entrapment below ground.

“Mission Accomplished” is the banner these heroes proudly displayed in their own language, before surfacing in the rescue capsule one by one themselves.

Thankfully, we have emergency, fire, police, ambulance, medical, military, search and rescue, coast guard; all manner of individuals willing to risk their lives to save others.

Forgive me if I missed naming groups who routinely ‘rescue’ their fellow citizens, for there are far too many to be inclusive of all.

I am again reminded of 9/11 and where I was, in this year of 2010, on the 9th anniversary of the horror that occurred in New York City . . . .

Outside the fire hall in Anchorage, Alaska a ceremony took place as a soldier at the street corner stopped in reverence and silence, before saluting when the Star Spangled Banner resounded with the raising, then lowering, of the Stars and Stripes to half mast.

I was walking on the sidewalk behind him at the time, and when I realized what was unfolding before me, I memorialized the solemn moment, capturing his respectful quiet stance before the music played . . . .

9/11 2010